I've often heard people talk about how they find it annoying when someone "nices" their shots. I can understand that. "Nice" is subjective. You might even say that your enjoyment of the game is being tarnished by such unnecessary commentary. I'm sure there's a term in psychiatry for someone that is compelled to speak if they realize people aren't paying attention to them.

I recall asking another player not to make noises reflective of my putts. That player was in the habit of making "close call" whistles if my throws gave a little bounce off the basket rim before going in. I think he described is as the "sinking battleship" sound when I asked him not to do it anymore. His rationale was that it was a close putt, and he was just sharing that observation.

I've combed over the courtesy violation rule word-for-word, and any way you construe it, I find it really tough to meaningfully try to apply that rule to these situations unless the "nice!" or the "SShheeooww" sound is made while the player is either throwing, or preparing to do so. I was ready to just shrug and say "deal with it." It meant that disc golfers would have to accept that this sort of thing would always tarnish the lustre that I know the sport can display. It still didn't seem just to me, though, and for good reason.

This sort of behaviour can lead to what might be called a "mental attack" on a player. "Nice!"ing a shot just because it was made may not be discourteous in and of itself. However, when that comes after a mediocre shot following a string of poor ones, it can be turned into something else by someone seeking to gain a competitive advantage over someone they may feel is in a vulnerable mind space. Comments like, "You almost missed that one," are no different. They are an association of a negative result (in this case, missing the shot) despite a positive outcome (where the putt actually went in). It is well known in psychology that this negative association can lead to further negative results.

Here, again, you might be tempted to simply say, "Grow a thicker skin, it's part of the game!" But it isn't part of the game. Champions are not the people that most successfully get under everyone else's skin. Disc golf is a game that is supposed to be free of the influence of its competitors, other than that they post the score you have to beat in order to become a winner.

Disc golfers have always been able to avoid this sort of thing by avoiding the people that do it. I don't choose to play golf with the people that I feel are going to be rude to me during a round. The thing is, I can't choose who I play golf with during a tournament, and a tournament is where that sort of behaviour is likely to be most damaging.

Well, I believe I've found what a player can do to stop this sort of behaviour at any time during a tournament. PDGA tournaments must be run according the PDGA Rule and the Competition Manual. Have a look at the Competition Manual, Section 3:

Quote:

Section 3: Player
Code of Conduct
3.1. General
A. All tournament players must abide
by the information given in the PDGA
Competition Manual and the PDGA Rules
of Play. Any player in non-compliance may
be disqualified, or may not be allowed to
participate in the tournament at any time.

This makes the Code of Conduct found in the Competition Manual binding. Players are obliged to follow what is written there. Now, let me draw your attention to another section of the Competition Manual, still under the Player Code of Conduct:

Quote:

3.3. Professional Misconduct
B. Players are expected to behave in a
professional and sportsmanlike manner
while participating in a PDGA sanctioned
event. Actions that are in violation of this
conduct include but are not limited to:
• Loud cursing
• Throwing items in anger (other than
discs in play)
• Overt rudeness
...

It is considered unprofessional and/or unsportsmanlike to behave in an overtly rude way, and it isn't punishable with strokes after a warning. It's punishable by disqualification.

"Rude" is an adjective defined as:

Random House Dictionary wrote:

discourteous or impolite, esp. in a deliberate way.

Rudeness is the noun.

"Overt" is an adjective define as:

Random House Dictionary wrote:

open to view or knowledge; not concealed or secret.

Overt rudeness therefore is demonstrated when someone knowingly engages in a discourteous or impolite act.

So what is a person to do about the "Nice!" guy and the whistler?
You simply ask them to stop that behaviour.
Once you ask them to stop commenting on your game, you have set the bounds for polite interaction. If it happens again, you can be even more assertive. It IS impolite for a person to continue to willingly acting in a manner whereby they direct their own interpretations of your actions towards you if you politely ask them to stop. Inform them that it is impolite to make frivilous or obscure comments about another player's shots, and that you no longer wish to be subject to that sort of critique. It is impolite to associate a successful shot with a near miss.
Having now requested that they discontinue that activity, you can tell them that subsequent actions would be overtly rude in view of your request, and subject to penalty under section 3.3.B of the Competition Manual. If that isn't the end of it, you can smile through the rest of the round knowing how "nice!" a DQ will look on the score summary following the tournament._________________Privacy is a means to democracy, not an end in itself. - unknown
Sabotage the system. Provoke more questions! - unknown

Last edited by burjwahzeh on Fri Sep 10, 2010 1:03 pm; edited 2 times in total

Everyone I know is "Nice"ing a disc because it appears the player threw a good shot....It just didn't work out, but its not meant as a personal attack, or to get in someone's head/ I agree that if they do it every shot you should ask to atop (or apply fists of fury) but that has not been my experience.

Same goes for the "That was close" whistle. Its meant to be comradely, not derisive. You know you gacked the putt and it still got in....the wry whistle is just sharing that sentiment.

You don't become a champ by getting under others skin. You become a champ because your mental game is as strong as your physical.

Ah, but you miss the subtlety here:
These are not discourteous acts in and of themselves.

You CAN do these things... up until you are asked not to.

Personally, I seldom get tired of people "nice!"ing my shots (after all, I throw so few of them worthy of the comment).

If you are asked to stop directing your comments at another golfer's shots, you are required to oblige._________________Privacy is a means to democracy, not an end in itself. - unknown
Sabotage the system. Provoke more questions! - unknown

Last edited by burjwahzeh on Fri Sep 10, 2010 12:56 pm; edited 3 times in total

I may start my next round with, "Hi. I would like to politely request you to not talk to me during this round. If you do, I would consider 'that subsequent actions would be overtly rude in view of (my) request, and subject to penalty under section 3.3.B of the Competition Manual.' Good luck!"_________________Boyle says BOOM!

Last edited by Jefrey A. Brother on Fri Sep 10, 2010 1:34 pm; edited 1 time in total

I may start my next round with, "Hi. I would like to politely request you to not talk to me during this round. If you do, I would consider 'that subsequent actions would be overtly rude in view of (my) request, and subject to penalty under section 3.3.B of the Competition Manual.' Good luck!"